60 unit Residential Scheme Granted Consent
Kay Elliott's Hatchcombe Lane development is for full residential use together with a proportion allocated for affordable housing.
Planners have granted consent to Kay Elliott’s Hatchcombe Lane proposal. The development, which is already being planned for construction to begin later in 2010, is for full residential use, with a proportion allocated for affordable housing.
The residential use is reinforced by the site’s
existing contextual setting. A variety of house
and apartment types creates a mixed tenure
which would help encourage social diversity.
The new square in the centre of the development
is reinforced by the formal arrangement of the
surrounding buildings. The focal point and anchor of the newly formed square is the apartment block on the South side of the square. The apartments feature community spaces on the ground floor which spill out onto the square, creating a place with a distinct character. Due to the steep topography of the site, this anchor building will also house secure community lifts allowing level entry onto all areas of the site.
On the north of the site, properties overlook the opened up Hatchcombe Lane, forming passive surveillance over the new safe footpath. There is an opportunity for this lane to be continued to The Willows shopping and office park, allowing greater use of the new public park on the north of
the site and subsequently greater interaction of
communities. The new lane will encourage people to
walk to the local facilities helping to boost the local economy.
The new homezone streets and square give priority to pedestrians and cyclists. On-street parking brings activity to the street and has an additional traffic calming effect. The courtyard
parking is overlooked affording secure parking
whilst removing the perceived dominance of the
motor vehicle as well as providing the convenience
of short distances to travel from vehicle to home.
